Herbert Lee Shreffler, 97 years old of Coffeyville, Kansas passed away on April 25, 2026, at home with family at his side.
Herb was born on August 31, 1928, in Barnsdall, Oklahoma to Vincent and Genevieve (Gibson) Shreffler. He attended school in Barnsdall and graduated with the class of 1946. On October 11, 1947, Herb married his high school sweetheart, Lavona Freda Napier. They were loving parents to Lafreda, Gloria Dawn, and Cheryl.
He stayed active in Barnsdall, serving as a city councilman, volunteer fireman, and a cub scout leader. He and Lavona co-owned the Twins Variety store on Main with her twin Ramona and Joe Tucker.
God always came first in Herb‘s life. He gave his heart to Christ early and was a lifelong member of the Bible Holiness Church and pastored at the Caney and Bartlesville Holiness Churches.
Herb was employed at Phillips Petroleum Company for 33 years at the Research Center before retiring in 1985. After retiring from Phillips, he drove a school bus in Bartlesville for several years.
After Lavona became ill, they moved to Coffeyville, KS to live next door to their daughter Cheryl, who devoted her life to caring for her mom until her passing in 2007 and continued spoiling her daddy for years. He told everyone they had a “Good Neighbor Policy” - “Cheryl and Dana cooked and he ate!”
After Lavona‘s passing, he volunteered at the Coffeyville Regional Medical Center. He loved ministering and praying for others and was proud of his 2015 volunteer of the year award.
Herb attended church faithfully at the Independence Bible Holiness Church and loved attending annual holiness camp meetings in Ochelata and Independence. In his later years, he enjoyed watching livestream church services from across the nation. He had a heart for the mission fields, especially after Cheryl and Dale served as missionaries in Papua New Guinea.
He had a great devotion to Independence Bible School where his sister, George Ann, taught for years. He served on the school board, and he and Lavona were dorm parents. He was so proud that his grandson and great granddaughter are teaching there, as well as six great grands that have attended the school.
Herb was thankful for the rich Christian heritage bestowed upon our family from generation to generation through faith, prayer, and seeking God’s will in all things.
Everyone recognized Herb for his trademark suspenders and for his laughter, jokes, and a pun a minute! He wrote poems about family, friends, and church family. He felt blessed to love and be loved by so many. He especially loved holidays and vacations with his kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. He enjoyed touring across the great USA and visited Alaska, Grenada, and eight countries in Europe.
Herb was adored and will be dearly missed by his three daughters Lafreda (Rodney) Gipson, Gloria Dawn Blackwell, and Cheryl Mahan. His grandchildren Chance (Cindy) Gipson; Chase (Missy) Gipson; Chelsey (Dusty) Smith; Beau (Storey) Blackwell; Dustin (Raelynn) Blackwell; Julie (Wesley) Rummell; and Dana (Larry) Jones. Great grandchildren Brendan and Andrew Gipson; Hollis, Evie, and Hart Gipson; Griffin, Lili Grace, and Vivian “Birdie” Smith; Dylan and Dashiell Blackwell; Penelope and Emilia Blackwell; Brianna (Dennis) Morford; Kierra and Ethan Rummell; Kartyr, Karlye, and Kylar Jones. In-laws Dolly Shreffler and Mary Lou Napier, and many loving extended family members, church family, hospital staff, and postal friends.
Herb was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Lavona; parents Vincent and Genevieve; sons-in-law Dale Mahan and Tom Blackwell; several precious great-grandbabies, including Baby Anna and Baby Willow; and foster granddaughter Shaley Leon. Sisters Norma (Herman) Husk; Lola (LeRoy) Lanphear; George Ann Shreffler; and Phyllis Jane Riley. Brothers Charles (Gladys) and Dake (Sandra) Shreffler. In-Laws Ramona (Joe) Tucker; Iwannah (Howard) Ross; Archie (Bonnie) Napier; and Richard Napier.
Friends may pay their respects at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, 2405 Woodland Ave., in Coffeyville, Kansas on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, from 1-7pm, with the family present from 5-7pm.
Funeral services to celebrate Herb's life will be held at 10am on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at Bible Holiness Church, 616 N 13th St, Independence, KS 67301. There will be a brief viewing at 2pm at Bible Holiness Church, 301 Vine St. in Barnsdall, Oklahoma, the church he grew up in. It will be followed by a 3pm graveside service at Ethel Reece Cemetery in Barnsdall, where he will be laid to rest next to his wife Lavona in the new section on the East side.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Independence Bible School, 4012 CR 3900, Independence, KS 67301 and be left in the care of Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel.
Funeral services to celebrate Herbie's life will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 10am at Bible Holiness Church, 616 N 13th St, Independence, KS 67301. Services will continue on to Bible Holiness Church, 301 Vine St. in Barnsdall, Oklahoma the church he pastored, then Graveside services at Ethel Reece Cemetery also in Barnsdall where he will be laid to rest next to his wife Lavona.
To leave an online condolence, share a memory or view live streaming of his service visit his obituary page at www.fordwulfbrunschapel.com
